Budget 2026-27 ‘Halwa ceremony’ held at North Block; finance ministry begins final phase of preparations
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the traditional Halwa ceremony on January 27, 2026, marking the start of the final stage of Union Budget 2026-27 preparation ahead of the February 1 presentation. The event also signals the beginning of the confidential ‘lock-in’ period for officials working on the budget documents.
Halwa ceremony signals final leg of Budget preparation
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took part in the customary Halwa ceremony on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at North Block in New Delhi, marking the beginning of the final phase of preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27. The budget is scheduled to be presented on February 1, 2026.
The ceremony is a long-standing tradition in India’s budget-making process. A sweet dish, halwa, is prepared and served to officials and staff involved in drafting and compiling the budget documents, symbolising an auspicious start to the final, most time-sensitive stage of work.
Who attended and what happens after the ceremony
Officials said the Finance Minister was joined by secretaries from departments under the Ministry of Finance and senior officials connected to the budget exercise. A minister of state for finance also attended. After the event, the budget team enters the mandatory ‘lock-in’ period—an internal confidentiality measure designed to prevent leaks before the Finance Minister’s speech in Parliament.
During the lock-in, key staff involved in printing and final compilation work operate under strict access controls. The tradition is meant to reinforce secrecy and ensure the final documents and numbers are protected until presentation day.
Budget documents to be available digitally
A finance ministry release cited in reports said the Union Budget documents—including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants and the Finance Bill—will be made available on the Union Budget Mobile App and the official website after the completion of the budget speech in Parliament. The move is aimed at giving Members of Parliament and the public quick digital access to the full set of documents.
Why this matters for markets and households
The Halwa ceremony is closely watched as a procedural milestone because it indicates that the budget drafting is largely complete and the final printing and sequencing is underway. With the February 1 presentation approaching, businesses, investors and households track the run-up for signals on taxation, government spending, infrastructure priorities and possible policy changes affecting consumption and investment.